Sweet Dreams - Ace Merrill

Meet the Queen.

Alex quickly moved to take John from Ace as Ace moved once again to collide his fist with the wall.

John continued to cry and scream out as Alex gave Eyeball the nod, of I'll get the kid out of here.

Eyeball shut the door behind Alex and John as he turned to Ace, who crashed down on the bed and began tugging at his hair.

"She's fucking gone! Again!" He snapped.

Eyeball stood still, as he watched Ace somehow try to come to terms with it.

"The fucking bitch has left me with her fucking kid!" Ace snapped as he stared up at Eyeball.

"I'm not even his fucking dad!" Ace shouted again as he stood up and kicked out at the bed.

Eyeball sighed slightly as he edged closer to Ace.

"What kind of fucking mum does that?!"

"A scared one." Eyeball answered as Ace turned and glared at him.

"Ace mate, she's petrified." Eyeball continued, edging closer still. "The girl never had to actually raise the baby let alone raise it in a house full of us." He mumbled as he gestured between them both.

"I fucking told her I'd help!" Ace tried snapping back.

"Did you?" Eyeball questioned. "Did you actually say the words that you'd step up?"

Ace was silent.

"Mate I know you, I know you didn't say it in words but maybe that's what she needed. A girl that's gone through everything she has actually needs to hear it."

Ace remained silent.

"You know how you feel about her and that kid right?"

Ace was silent as he turned away. Eyeball only moved closer.

"Because it's all pretty obvious to us." He finished.

Ace remained silent again.

"There ain't no way she could raise that kid alone and there ain't no fucking way you can raise that kid alone." Eyeball continued. "But together?"

Ace turned and slowly looked at him.

"I think you'd have made pretty damn good parents."

"I ain't his fucking father." Ace snapped harshly, still trying to mask the pain with anger.

Eyeball shook his head. "You ain't his father, but you could be his dad."

Ace sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair again before leaving the room. Eyeball followed him out as they went downstairs and into the back garden.

The others had arrived and Billy was happily winding John up with Charlie. He was holding the baby's arms and pretending to punch Charlie with them while the baby's laugh surrounded them.

Ace ignored the looks he got as he walked straight over to them. Billy and Charlie put up no resistance as Ace took John from them and balanced the kid on his hip, slowly walking away from them and began whispering to the small child.

"He good?" Alex asked as he appeared next to Eyeball, nodding towards Ace.

Eyeball shrugged. "Fuck knows what he's thinking. We gotta get her back you know?"

Alex sighed slightly. "If she ain't wanting to come back, we can't force her."

Eyeball sighed himself. "If she don't come back he might just fucking give the kid up himself."

Alex turned and looked over at Ace, who was still holding John comfortably and whispering quietly.

"You think so?"

Eyeball shrugged. "He knows he can't do it alone."

Alex sighed as he kept his gaze on his nephew. The poor infant had no idea what was going on yet he continued to stare happily up at Ace.

"Wanna hand him over now Merrill?"

The cobras all jumped to attention as Alex and Eyeball moved closer to Ace.

Zach and a handful of his own friends had begun walking around the back of Ace's house and were attempting to surround them.

"He is my fucking son you know?" Zach asked again.

Ace stood firm as none of the cobras said a word, his grip tightened on the small baby ever so slightly.

Zach walked forward as he looked around. "Where is she?"

Again, none of the cobras said a word. Alex had filled them all in with the knowledge that Vivian had left, but they weren't about to admit that to him.

"Come on, Vivian!" He shouted aiming at the house, half expecting her to walk out.

Yet no-one did.

Zach shook it off as he turned back to Ace. "Come on Merrill, let's make this easy." He stretched his hands out as he took a few steps closer. "Hand me my son."

"Over my dead body." Ace finally snapped back as Alex and Eyeball tried to hide the small smiles on their faces. Ace wasn't going to give this kid up.

Zach laughed. "I mean, that would solve my problems?"

The cobras had all positioned themselves near Ace and John as both groups continued to stare each other down.

"So if I have to kill you to get to my son then I have no issue with that." Zach said almost tauntingly as he took a few steps forward.

Alex felt a small smile come to his face as he shook his head slowly, taking a few steps towards the baby's father.

"You play chess don't you Zach?"

Zach was confused but nodded slowly.

"The fuck does that matter?" He snapped harshly.

Alex laughed slightly. "What's the most important piece?"

"The Queen."

"Why?" Alex questioned.

Zach looked about confused. "Why the fuck does it matter?!"

"Just answer the question" Alex bit back harshly.

"Because she protects the King!" Zach snapped back.

"Of course she does, you just threatened Ace right?" Alex questioned, a small hint of tease and sarcasm in his voice.

Zach nodded slowly. "Obviously."

"Meet the Queen." Alex said with a small smile.

Yet before Zach could reply, he dropped to his knees and crashed down unconscious.

The others all turned to him as they felt themselves freeze to the spot.

Vivian was standing there, having just knocked Zach unconscious with a butt of a gun she was now aiming between the friends that surrounded him.